Afghanistan: Women

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to prevent the abduction, rape and torture of women in Afghanistan, when external forces withdraw.

Baroness Warsi: In June, the Afghan National Security Forces, supported by the international community, took the lead responsibility for security in all areas of Afghanistan, this includes policing.
	The UK’s commitment to Afghanistan and the Afghan people will not end when international combat forces leave Afghanistan after the end of 2014. Tackling violence and discrimination against women is an important part of our work in Afghanistan and is fundamental to upholding basic human rights and to supporting the role of women in securing a stable and prosperous future Afghanistan. We regularly raise respect for women's rights and the protection of women's security with the Afghan government and wider Afghan Authorities and will continue to do so.
	Implementation of the Afghan Elimination of Violence Against Women Law was specifically included in the Tokyo Mutual Accountability Framework, the partnership between the Afghan government and the international community. We, along with our international partners, will hold the Afghan government to account for the commitments they have made. Our assistance to the Ministry of Interior goes in part towards helping to improve the Afghan National Police’s role in protecting and upholding women's rights. It also supports the development of Afghan policy on promoting human rights and protecting women from violence.

Afghanistan: Women

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to ensure that women’s refuges remain open in Afghanistan when the government of Afghanistan assumes full responsibility.

Baroness Northover: DFID recognises the important role of refuges as part of the response to violence against women in Afghanistan. The UK provides funding to NGOs who work to protect women from violence in Afghanistan. Although this funding is not earmarked for any particular activity, their work includes the running of women’s refuges.

Airports: Aircraft Noise

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the risks to vulnerable people living near the busiest airports in the United Kingdom of stroke and heart disease related to aircraft noise.

Baroness Kramer: Public Health England funded a recently published study by the Small Area Health Statistics Unit, based at Imperial College London, on the risk of hospital admissions and deaths from stroke, heart disease and circulatory disease in neighbourhoods exposed to aircraft noise related to Heathrow airport. The Government will evaluate the study alongside other existing evidence to consider future policy implications in this area.

Armenia and Azerbaijan

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the European Union has a budget for confidence-building measures and normalisation of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan; and, if so, whether the budget includes support for non-governmental organisations and civil society in preparing public opinion in those countries for peace.

Baroness Warsi: The EU is providing €6 million over three years ending in financial year 2014-15 for confidence building measures. This primarily funds a coalition of non-governmental organisations ‘The European Partnership for the Peaceful Settlement of the Conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh (EPNK).’ The work of EPNK is organised around three themes: media, public policy and conflict-affected groups. EPNK projects have involved bringing together activists and residents from conflict affected communities across the Line of Contact with the aim of building mutual understanding and confidence between the communities.
	The UK government has allocated funding of £700,000 for financial year 2013-14 for projects focusing on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Successful bids for funding for financial year 2013-14 include projects aiming to increase informal contact between governmental representatives acting in their personal capacity, representatives of governmental think-tanks and others to develop an approach to confidence building measures which will complement and strengthen the official process.

Armenia and Azerbaijan

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the European Union is engaging with the governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan in developing plans for the sharing of water resources between those countries, and for future economic co-operation between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Baroness Warsi: Engagement in economic co-operation has proved a valuable tool in conflict settlement disputes. The UK envisages economic co-operation between Armenia and Azerbaijan being part of a settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The EU Special Representative (EUSR) for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia, drawing on experiences in other conflict settlement processes, has offered support to
	the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in considering a water sharing programme in the conflict affected region. The European Union supports the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group in working for a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and EUSR Lefort remains in close consultation with the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Andrzej Kasprzyk.

Asylum Seekers

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assistance they have offered and provided to (1) Italy, and (2) Syria’s neighbouring countries, to guarantee north African asylum seekers (a) safe entry to the European Union (temporary or otherwise), and (b) access to fair and efficient asylum procedures.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The Government is keen to ensure that, where European Union (EU) Member States' migration systems come under pressure, support is provided in the form of practical cooperation. The European Asylum Support Office (EASO) is the primary mechanism for the provision of such support within the EU. The UK actively contributes to EASO, including providing staff for EASO's Asylum Support Teams.
	EASO is currently providing support to Italy in the form of a Special Support plan that was signed on 4 June 2013.
	With regard to Syria, I share the deep concern of others regarding the worsening humanitarian crisis. The Government has provided £500 million already to the regional Syrian relief effort. Beyond the provision of humanitarian aid, the Government's objective is to ensure that effective protection is provided in the region and that support is given to the neighbouring countries that are bearing the brunt of the displacement. With over two million people now having been displaced from Syria, regional protection is the only realistic means by which the rights of the vast majority of displaced persons can be safeguarded.
	Accordingly, the Government supports the EU's plans to establish a Regional Protection Programme (RPP) for those displaced by the Syrian crisis. In July we confirmed that the UK is prepared to contribute up to Euro 500,000 to the programme and we look forward to playing an active and constructive role on the programme's Steering Committee.
	Our participation in this project in line with our strong view is that it is best for displaced people to be provided protection as close to their region of origin as possible, rather than being brought to the EU.

Asylum Seekers

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Taylor of Holbeach on 25 February (WA 188), how many asylum seekers who have arrived in the United Kingdom in the last five years were first registered in Greece; how many of those have been returned to Greece; how many have
	arrived since the decision not to return asylum seekers to Greece following the judgment by the European Court of Human Rights in the case of MSS v Belgium and Greece (Application no. 30696/09); and when they expect that sufficient progress will be made by Greece towards meeting the Court’s requirements on improved detention facilities to allow the return of asylum seekers to resume.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: Since 2008, the Home Office is aware of 4,708 cases where evidence suggests that there were previous links to Greece. A total of 564 cases were returned to Greece under the Dublin Regulation between 2008 and September 2010.
	In September 2010, a decision to suspend transfer from the UK to Greece under the Dublin Regulation was made. The decision was taken pending the outcome of the case of NS referred by the Court of Appeal to the European Court of Justice. As a result, asylum applications that would have otherwise been the responsibility of Greece fell to be considered substantively in the UK by the Home Office. Since this decision was taken, approximately 1,164 cases have been identified by the Home Office that would have otherwise been the responsibility of Greece.
	Greece is continuing to implement its Action Plan on Managed Migration and Asylum Reform. There have been some notable improvements in Greece's asylum system, including the opening of the new Asylum Service in June 2013. The UK and other Member States continue to offer support to Greece via the European Asylum Support Office, however we judge that more progress is still needed in all aspects of the Greek asylum system before the EU can be confident that a resumption of Dublin returns to Greece would stand up to judicial scrutiny.
	Note: The above statistics are based on management information data that is not quality assured under National Statistics protocols. The figures do not constitute part of National Statistics and should be treated as provisional.

Asylum Seekers

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made about the treatment of asylum seekers, and in particular children, in the Republic of Ireland; and whether they have made any representations to the government of that country about the matter.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: Officials are in regular contact with their counterparts in the Irish administration. We are satisfied that Ireland is a safe country for the removal of asylum seekers, including children, from the UK in accordance with its position in the list of safe countries at Part two of Schedule three to the Immigration and Asylum (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act 2004, The Government has therefore not made any representations to the Irish Government regarding its treatment of asylum seekers.
	The Government is aware that the High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland recently found in favour of the applicants in the case of ALJ and others regarding the Secretary of State for the Home Department's
	failure to have regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of the children in the family as required by section 55 of the Borders, Immigration and Citizenship Act 2009 when proposing to transfer the family from the UK to Ireland under the Dublin Regulation (EC) No. 343/2003. At the same time, however, we also note that the High Court fully rejected the contention that there is a systemic deficiency in Ireland's asylum or reception procedures amounting to a real risk of asylum applicants. including children, being subjected to inhuman or degrading treatment on return to Ireland.

Asylum Seekers

Lord Avebury: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many asylum cases were awaiting first decisions at (1) the latest convenient date, and (2) twelve months earlier.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The latest date for which published National Statistics on asylum pending cases are available is the second quarter of 2013.
	The number of asylum applications pending an initial decision for main applicants was 7,201 at the end of 2012 Q2 and 9,866 at the end of 2013 Q2.
	The number of asylum applications pending an initial decision for main applicants and dependants was 9,188 at the end of 2012 Q2 and 13,124 at the end of 2013 Q2.
	These increases coincide with an increase in asylum applications in the preceding years, from 26,148 in the year ending 2012 Q2 to 29,528 in the year ending 2013 Q2 for main applicants and dependants.
	The figures for the number of asylum applications pending an initial decision on a quarterly basis are published as National Statistics in Tables as_01_.q (main applicants) and as02_q (main applicants and dependants) in Asylum data tables Volume one of Immigration Statistics. The latest release Immigration Statistics April — June 2013 is available in the Library of the House and from:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-april-to-june-2013.

Central African Republic

Baroness Berridge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the findings of the report by Human Rights Watch I can still smell the dead concerning the situation in the Central African Republic.

Baroness Warsi: We remain extremely concerned about human rights abuses in the Central African Republic (CAR). CAR’s National Transitional Council needs to do more to address this, and those responsible for abuses must be held accountable for their actions.
	We welcome the appointment at the September 2013 UN Human Rights Council Summit of an Independent Expert to monitor human rights abuses, and of UN Resolution 2121 which reinforced the mandate of United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in CAR (BINUCA) to promote and protect human rights.
	The Minister for Africa, my hon. Friend the Member for Boston and Skegness (Mr Simmonds), discussed the humanitarian situation in CAR with key African and International interlocutors at a High Level event during the United Nations General Assembly on 25 September 2013.

Central African Republic

Baroness Berridge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the security implications for the neighbouring region of the level of effectiveness of government in the Central African Republic.

Baroness Warsi: The situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) is largely confined within its borders, but the lack of security and effective governance has the potential to cause problems for its neighbours. We believe that security needs to be improved as a first step to allow the N’Djamena political process to progress. The return of a constitutional and effective government is vital for the long-term stability of CAR and is in the best interests of the region as a whole.

Central African Republic

Baroness Berridge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they agree with the assessment of the French Foreign Secretary Laurent Fabius that the Central African Republic is a stateless area.

Baroness Warsi: We are very concerned by the political and security situation in the Central African Republic. The N’Djamena Accords of April 2013 established a National Transitional Council (NTC) to act as the national legislature under the Head of Government, Prime Minister Tiangaye. They also established a clear roadmap for a return to constitutional government. However, the NTC needs to do more to address the levels of lawlessness and continuing violence and human rights abuses across the Central African Republic.

Central African Republic

Baroness Berridge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the President of France prior to his visit to South Africa on 14 October concerning the security situation in the Central African Republic.

Baroness Warsi: We have held regular discussions with France and other key international partners on the security situation in the Central African Republic (CAR). We are working particularly closely with France in the EU and the UN Security Council to agree how the international community should respond. This has included working together on UN Security Council Resolution 2121 which was adopted on 10 October. The Minister for Africa, my hon. Friend the Member
	for Boston and Skegness (Mr Simmonds), also attended a meeting at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday 25 September 2013 at which he and French Foreign Minister Fabius both spoke at a High Level event with key African and International interlocutors to discuss the humanitarian situation in CAR.

Central African Republic

Baroness Berridge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of South Africa and to the African Union about the case for establishing a peacekeeping force in the Central African Republic.

Baroness Warsi: The UK and South Africa enjoy a close dialogue on regional security and peacekeeping issues, including regular discussion at both Ministerial and official level. This was re-affirmed at the UK-South Africa Ministerial Bilateral Forum in Cape Town on 10 September 2013 where the Foreign Secretary led the UK delegation. The communiqué noted that Ministers discussed recent developments in Central African Republic (CAR) and welcomed South Africa’s growing peacekeeping role on the continent.
	The UK regularly discusses CAR with the African Union (AU). At the CAR International Contact Group meeting in July we welcomed an AU report recommending the reinforcement of the regional security force in CAR, MICOPAX, and made a further statement on 19 August in the AU Peace and Security Council which called for an end to violence against CAR’s civilians. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Boston and Skegness (Mr Simmonds) has also discussed CAR with African foreign Ministers, such as Cameroon Minister for External Relations, and Chairperson of the AU, ND Zuma, in September 2013.

Civil Service: Corporate Credit Cards

The Lord Bishop of Derby: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the rules and criteria for the issuing of corporate credit cards to civil servants; and how the use of such cards is monitored and audited.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The Government Procurement Card (GPC) is a payment charge card used for making low value purchases. Its proper use contributes to making efficiencies.
	All Departments have a clear policy for card allocation. The GPC Steering Group, established after the last General Election, has developed minimum policy standards for central Government departments and their Arm’s Length Bodies (ALBs). GPC Central Policy describes the roles and responsibilities for personnel that are required to govern and control local GPC programmes. These policies have been shared with the National Audit Office (NAO) and must be followed by all departments using GPCs. Before the last General Election there was no central oversight of Government GPC card use.
	All Departments now operate compliance checking processes which include transaction logs that must be reconciled with bank statements and receipts each month; and the requirement for budget managers to reconcile GPC payment to ensure compliance with approved spend. The departmental controls, in accordance with GPC policy, include monthly compliance checking, including identifying off-contract spend and clear guidance for users on the correct route-to-buy.
	All spend on GPCs over £500 is now published.

Civil Service: Corporate Credit Cards

Lord Marlesford: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many corporate cards are currently on issue to civil servants employed by (1) the Cabinet Office, (2) HM Treasury, (3) the Home Office, (4) the Department for Culture Media and Sport, (5) the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and (5) the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: As at 7 May 2013 the core departments have the following number of cards supplied via the Government Procurement Service (GPS) Government Procurement Card (GPC) framework:
	(1) Cabinet Office – 242 (2) HM Treasury – 163 (3) Home Office – 241 (4) Department for Culture Media and Sport – 52 (5) Department of Energy and Climate Change – 0
	These figures are for core Whitehall departments only and exclude agencies, NDPBs and ALBs.

Energy: Smart Meters

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Statement by Baroness Verma on 8 October concerning smart meters (WS 12–14), what action they are taking to ensure that households are given specific advice that the installation of smart meters in their premises is voluntary.

Baroness Verma: Energy suppliers will be required to take all reasonable steps to roll out smart meters to all their domestic and non-domestic customers by 31 December 2020, and to offer their domestic customers an in-home display. The roll-out of smart meters will bring significant benefits to consumers and the nation. We expect consumers to welcome the benefits smart meters will bring. However there will not be a legal obligation on individuals to have one.
	The Government has produced an information leaflet giving an overview of the smart metering implementation programme for the domestic sector. The leaflet is available on the Gov.uk website:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/smart-metering-implementation-programme-information-leaflet.
	Energy suppliers will have the primary consumer engagement role on smart metering as the main interface with their customers before, during and after installation. Supplier engagement will be supported by a programme of centralised engagement undertaken by a Central Delivery Body (CDB), which was set up in June 2013.

Equal Pay

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have conducted an assessment as to how equal pay audits under the Equality Act 2010 will alleviate the 2012 median full-time gender pay gap for hourly earnings.

Baroness Northover: New section 139A of the Equality Act 2010 (as inserted by the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013), gives Ministers the power to make regulations requiring employment tribunals to order an employer to carry out an equal pay audit where the employer has been found by the tribunal to have discriminated against an employee because of sex in relation to pay. It is intended that regulations will be made under this provision to come into force in October 2014. The measure will not, by itself, provide a solution to the gender pay gap, but we do think it will be a useful tool in tackling it. The Government is using a voluntary, business-led approach to help drive the culture change necessary to address the pay gap. It has introduced Think, Act, Report to promote greater transparency on gender employment issues, including pay. Over 125 companies are now supporting this initiative, representing nearly two million people.

European Court of Human Rights

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to change the policy of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office whereby they refuse to provide electronic copies of submissions made by the United Kingdom to the European Court of Human Rights in recently heard cases where those submissions may be read by members of the public at the Court’s offices in Strasbourg.

Baroness Warsi: Requests for copies of observations submitted to the European Court of Human Rights by the Government of the United Kingdom are considered within the framework of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. In accordance with section 32 of the Act, information held by a public authority is exempt from disclosure if it is held only by virtue of being contained in any document filed with, or otherwise placed in the custody of, a court for the purposes of proceedings in a particular cause or matter. This exemption generally applies to the written observations submitted by the Government to the European Court of Human Rights.
	The Court has a system to allow access to case files, including observations submitted by the Government, in certain circumstances. Details are provided by the Court on its website at: www.echr. coe.int/Pages/home.aspx?p=court/howitworks&c=#n 1368167237303_pointer. Unless one of the exceptions applies, case files can be consulted in person at the Court building by appointment.
	There are no plans to change our practice.

Export Licences

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many export licences for the shipment of (1) potassium fluoride, (2) sodium fluoride, and (3) any other precursor chemicals used in the manufacture of chemical weapons, have been granted to United Kingdom companies; and, of those licences, what quantities of the above chemicals have been shipped to (a) the Assad regime in Syria, and (b) Syrian recipient companies, in each of the last ten years and to date in 2013.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: In the last 10 years one licence was granted for the export to Syria of potassium fluoride, in 2012, and six licences were granted for the export to Syria of sodium fluoride – one each in years 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010 & 2012. No other licences have been granted for export to Syria of chemicals capable of use in the manufacture of chemical weapons.
	A minimum of 4050kg and a maximum of 4150kg of sodium fluoride was exported under licence between 2004 and 2012. It is not possible to give precise figures because HMRC is only required to keep export records for a maximum of 3 calendar years from the year in which the export was submitted to them and some exports were made before this period. No potassium fluoride was shipped because the licence concerned was revoked and no shipments had been made.
	The two licences granted in 2012, which were revoked before any shipments were made, were for use in a metal finishing process for making aluminium showers and window frames; all other licences were for the manufacture of toothpaste. All the end-users were commercial companies.

Freedom of Religion

The Lord Bishop of Derby: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Warsi on 22 July (WA 167), what steps they are taking with their European partners to ensure that the European Union guidelines on the promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief, as agreed by the Council of Ministers on 24 June, are put into operation.

Baroness Warsi: Following their agreement by the Council of Ministers, the European Union guidelines have been used to inform lobbying on freedom of religion or belief issues by EU country offices and the embassies of individual Member States. They have also guided EU activity in multilateral fora, for example in developing resolutions on freedom of religion or belief at the UN General Assembly. Implementation of the guidelines, and their effectiveness to date, is due to be discussed by the EU’s human rights’ working group in the near future.

Government Departments: Data

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what changes they have made to the reporting of data at the Cabinet Office since May 2010.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: We are committed to being the most transparent Government in history and the Cabinet Office has been at the forefront of this transformation. After the last General Election, ministers and non-executives were shocked at the poor quality and paucity of management information.
	The Cabinet Office commissioned Dr Martin Read CBE, former CEO of Logica and a member of the government's Efficiency and Reform Board, to recommend steps to improve the quality and consistency of management information across government. Dr Reads report confirmed that raising the quality of information available to ministers and civil service leaders will improve decision-making. increase Whitehall efficiency and help deliver savings for the taxpayer.
	Since 2010, all departments are required to produce Quarterly Data Summaries which includes data on DEL and AME spend, cost of running the estate, IT and corporate services costs and details on policy and policy implementation. These are available online.
	The QDS has since been revised and improved in line with action 9 of the Civil Service Reform Plan to establish a consistent and comparable quarterly reporting framework. The revised QDS has a greater focus on common areas of spend and is supported by a set of commonly agreed data definitions,
	In June 2012, the Cabinet Office published its first Open Data strategy, setting out the context and background to our approach; outlining the types of data we hold as a department and how we intend to treat it in line with our drive to greater transparency. More detail on this can be found in the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts 2012-13:
	www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/225980/HC_15.pdf

Government Departments: Expenditure

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was or will be the Department for International Development’s total expenditure, including funding streams, on (1) the United Nations Population Fund, (2) Marie
	Stopes International, (3) the International Planned Parenthood Federation and (4) Women and Children First (UK), in (a) 2010–11, (b) 2011–12, (c) 2012–13, (d) 2013–14 and (e) 2014–15.

Baroness Northover: The information required is contained in DFID Statistics on International Development (SID) 2012 tables for the period 2007/8 – 2011/12 - tables 18 and 19. The link is as follows:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statistics-on-international-development
	Future forecast funding figures for UNFPA and the NGOs in question are not available at this time.
	Relevant additional information can be found in the DFID Annual Report and Accounts 2012 -13, Chapter 4 (page 101) which has an in-depth section on the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). This is available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dfid-annual-report-and-accounts-2012-13

Harbours

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the remaining outstanding issues before they can give final approval to allow the works at Penzance and St Mary’s harbours agreed in principle by Ministers two months ago to go ahead.

Baroness Kramer: Final approval of the funding that Ministers are minded to provide for this scheme can be considered once there is an assurance of compatibility with the European state aid rules and once the promoters have secured the necessary funding contribution from the EU Convergence Programme.

Health: Incontinence

Baroness Masham of Ilton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that patients who are suffering from bleeding will be able to receive the same prescription incontinence pads as patients with urinary and faecal incontinence.

Earl Howe: Appliances listed in Part IX of the Drug Tariff can be prescribed and dispensed for patients on the National Health Service. Incontinence pads (including products not necessarily described as such but using the absorption principle) are not prescribable on the NHS under the Drug Tariff provisions, whether for urinary and faecal incontinence or for patients suffering from bleeding.

Health: Molecular Diagnostic Services

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: To ask Her Majesty’s Government in what instances they consider the criminalisation of same sex conduct to be persecutory harm.

Earl Howe: NHS England's Molecular Diagnostic Testing Group will be developing national commissioning policy in this area in response to the Department's proposals regarding access to molecular diagnostic testing. It is hoped that an interim policy position to inform national commissioning can be developed by spring 2014.

Homosexuality

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the Commonwealth Charter on the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Commonwealth countries.

Baroness Warsi: We have made no formal assessment of the impact of the Commonwealth Charter on the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Commonwealth countries.
	The Charter reflects the overarching values of the Commonwealth and the aspirations of its citizens. It states that “we are implacably opposed to all forms of discrimination, whether rooted in gender, race, colour, creed, political belief or other grounds.” The UK Government interprets ‘other grounds’ as including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
	However, we recognise that over 40 Commonwealth members still criminalise homosexuality. We want to ensure the Charter becomes a key document for holding Commonwealth members accountable to Commonwealth values.
	We are committed to working with the Commonwealth and its partners to help them uphold values of human rights, rule of law, democracy and development. We raise human rights issues with the Commonwealth Secretariat and with member states. We seek to increase debate on these issues, including on sexual orientation or gender identity, within and among Commonwealth countries.

Iraq

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are assisting the search for political solutions in Iraq; and, if so, how.

Baroness Warsi: The Government continues to support Iraq in improving the security situation and building prosperity. Our work supports the cross-Government Iraq Strategy published in October 2012 and includes initiatives such as a £1.5 million project delivered by Global Partners to help to improve Iraq’s parliamentary process and build capacity. Further information about our work in Iraq can be found on our The UK in Iraq website at: www.gov.uk/government/world/iraq.

Israel

Lord Dykes: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proposals they will put to the government of Israel to publish details of its nuclear arsenal and join the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Baroness Warsi: We encourage Israel to sign up to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and call on Israel to agree a Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency. The Government of Israel is in no doubt as to our views. We do not intend to table any new proposals in the near future.

Israel

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel concerning the bulldozing of the Bedouin village Az Za’ayyem in land earmarked for settlement construction in E1.

Baroness Warsi: Officials from our Embassy in Tel Aviv have repeatedly made representations on the issue of demolitions, including with the Israeli National Security Council. Our Ambassador in Tel Aviv raised the broader planning process and demolitions in Area C with the Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) on 8 October.

Israel

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel concerning the Israeli army’s barring of European Union and Red Cross relief tents following the demolition of the West Bank village of Makhul.

Baroness Warsi: Our Ambassador in Tel Aviv has raised this issue with Israeli National Security Advisor Amidror. Officials from our Embassy in Tel Aviv have also raised this issue with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Japan

Lord Campbell-Savours: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Japan over Japanese governmental ministerial visits to the Yasukuni shrine to commemorate Japan's war dead including class A convicted World War II war criminals.

Baroness Warsi: We have made no recent representations to the Government of Japan regarding visits by Japanese ministers to the Yasukuni shrine. We are aware of reports that a number of Japanese Ministers
	visited the shrine in August. However, the Japanese government has stated that these visits took place in a personal capacity.

Japan

Lord Campbell-Savours: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will set out a list of bilateral agreements that exist between Japan and the United Kingdom on trade and military matters.

Baroness Warsi: The following bilateral treaties exist between the UK and Japan on trade and military subjects:
	Title: Convention between Great Britain and Japan, for regulating the Admission of British Ships into the Ports of Japan. Signed: Nagasaki, 14 October, 1854.
	Title: Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Commerce, between Great Britain and Japan. Signed: Yedo, 26 August, 1858.
	Title: Treaty of Commerce and navigation between Great Britain and Japan. Signed: Tokyo, 16 July, 1894.
	Title: Supplementary Convention between Great Britain and Japan respecting the Duties to be Charged on British Goods Imported into Japan. Signed: Tokyo, 16 July, 1895.
	Title: Agreement between the United Kingdom and Japan. Signed: London, 12 August, 1905.
	Title: Treaty of Commerce and Navigation. Signed: London, 3 April, 1911. (Article 8 abrogated by Notes Exchanged on 14 July, 1924.)
	Title: Agreement between the United Kingdom and Japan. Signed: London, 3 July, 1911. (Similar provisions to 1905 Agreement.)
	Title: Agreement between the British and Japanese Governments respecting the Tonnage Measurement of Ships. Signed: London, 30 November, 1922. (Revived by Exchange of Notes dated 15 September 1952.)
	Title: Supplementary Convention to the Treaty of Commerce and Navigation between the United Kingdom and Japan together with Minutes of a meeting between the British and Japanese Representatives at the Foreign Office on July 30, 1925. Signed: London, 30 July, 1925.
	Title: Agreement between the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Union of South Africa, India and Pakistan on the one part and the Government of Japan on the other part regarding British Commonwealth War Graves in Japanese Territory. Signed: Tokyo, 21 September, 1955.
	Title: Agreed Minute and Letters concerning Trade. Signed: London, 26 February, 1957.
	Title: Treaty of Commerce, Establishment and Navigation between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Japan (with Protocols and Exchanges of Notes). Signed: London, 14 November, 1962. (With further Exchange of Notes done at Tokyo on 20 December, 1966.)
	Title: Exchange of Notes between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Japan concerning the supply of Logistic Support to the United Kingdom Armed Forces. Signed: Tokyo, 18 January, 2002.
	Title: Exchange of Notes between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Japan concerning the supply of Logistic Support to the United Kingdom Armed Forces. Signed: Tokyo, 5 February, 2008.
	Title: Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Japan concerning the Transfer of Arms and Military Technologies Necessary to Implement Joint Research, Development and Production of Defence Equipment and other Related Items. Signed: London, 4 July, 2013.
	Title: Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Japan on the Security of Information. Signed: London, 4 July, 2013.

Japan

Lord Campbell-Savours: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will set out a list of multilateral agreements of which the United Kingdom and Japan are participants on trade and military matters.

Baroness Warsi: A list of all agreements on multilateral trade and military issues applicable to both the UK and Japan would require detailed examination of a large number of individual instruments and could not be produced without disproportionate cost. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office keeps records of the UK’s treaty commitments but these are not structured in a way that would easily allow a comprehensive list to be produced.
	It is possible to view records and texts of treaties applicable to the UK at http://treaties.fco.gov.uk/treaties /treaty.htm. As an EU Member State, the UK is bound by agreements concluded on behalf of the European Union by the Council of the European Union. A list of such agreements can be found on the Council of the EU website at http://www.consilium. europa.eu/policies/agreements/search-the-agreements-database? lang=en. Both the UK and Japan are also members of the World Trade Organisation.

Lithuania

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made any policy changes in the light of the Supreme Court’s decision not to allow the government of Lithuania to appeal against the decision not to allow the extradition of Liam Campbell to that country; and whether they are aware of any planned challenge to that decision in the European Court of Human Rights.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The Government has not made any policy changes in light of the Supreme Court's decision not to allow the government of Lithuania to appeal against the decision not to allow the extradition of Liam Campbell.
	Any challenge to the decision of the Supreme Court would be a matter for an interested party.

Migrant Workers

Lord Dykes: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will reconsider their proposed ban on East European and other migrant workers coming to the United Kingdom to pick fresh fruit and vegetables in 2014.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: There is no ban on migrant workers coming to pick fruit and vegetables in 2014.
	From 1 January 2014, nationals of Bulgaria and Romania will cease to be subject to restrictions on taking employment in the United Kingdom. This means that fruit and vegetable growers will have unrestricted access to workers from the European Union, except Croatia whose nationals continue to be subject to transitional employment restrictions. In his Written Ministerial Statement of 12 September 2013, Official Report, columns 60-61 WS, the Minister for Immigration announced that the Government will not introduce a new scheme for seasonal agricultural workers from outside the European Union. The Government believes that there should be sufficient workers from UK and EU labour markets to meet the needs of the horticultural sector, but will keep the labour supply situation under review.

NHS: Migrant Access

Lord Touhig: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what provision they intend to make under proposals to regulate migrant access to health services for non-European Economic Area migrants who are victims of (1) violent crime, (2) sexual assault, or (3) female genital mutilation.
	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what provisions they intend to make under proposals to regulate migrant access to health services for non-European Economic Area migrants experiencing complications in pregnancy.
	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the compatibility between their proposals to regulate migrant access to health services and their strategy to end violence against women and girls, in particular with regard to victim support.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The Government has proposed in the current Immigration Bill that a person subject to immigration control who applies for time-limited entry clearance or time-limited leave to remain in the UK for more than six months will be required to pay a health surcharge as a precondition of entry to the UK. Those who have paid the surcharge will generally be able to access free NHS care to the same extent as a permanent resident.
	Victims of violent crime, sexual assault, female genital mutilation and those experiencing complications in pregnancy will all receive free NHS treatment, where they have paid the Migrant Health Surcharge, where they have permanent residence status or where they fall in an exempt category under enabling powers created by the Immigration Bill.
	Short term visitors and illegal migrants will, as now, be generally liable for NHS treatment charges and will not have the option of paying a surcharge in order to access the NHS without further charge. But no chargeable patient in urgent need will ever be denied NHS treatment.
	The Government considered the impact of its proposed policy on victims of domestic violence during the policy development process. This consideration has been included in the Policy Equality Statement for the proposals which will be published prior to Second Reading of the Immigration Bill in the House of Commons.

Nigeria

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Nigeria about the passing of the Nigerian Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill.

Baroness Warsi: We have lobbied regularly against the Bill during its passage through the House of Representatives and the Senate. Since the National Assembly approved the bill on 30 May 2013 we have raised our concerns with the President’s office. We are also working through the EU, and the EU Delegation has also raised EU concerns with the Nigerian government.

Northern Lighthouse Board

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to the status of the Northern Lighthouse Board if the vote in the September 2014 Scottish referendum establishes independence for Scotland; and whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of any impact assessment.

Baroness Kramer: Her Majesty’s Government is not making plans for Scottish independence and is confident that people in Scotland will continue to support Scotland remaining within the UK.

Overseas Aid

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether their international aid budget supports the commercial interests of major agribusiness companies, including those involved in genetically modified crops.

Baroness Northover: The UK Government believes global food and agribusiness companies can make an important contribution to economic development in agriculture by creating jobs and sourcing products from small-scale farms.
	The UK Government supports the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition, a joint initiative involving African governments, local and global companies and donors aimed at accelerating agriculture sector growth in Africa in order to lift 50 million people out of poverty by 2022. The UK does not directly fund the companies involved but supports a wide range of programmes in African partner countries to improve food security and raise small-scale farmers' incomes.

Palestine

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to United Nations Relief and Works Agency regarding the widening of its mandate to include Palestinian refugees in Kuwait and Iraq, and those who fled from there to third countries.

Baroness Northover: UNRWA’s mandate is determined by UN General Assembly resolution. The General Assembly repeatedly extends and expands the UNRWA mandate in response to developments in the region, most recently extending it to June 2014.
	It is not for states to determine the UNRWA mandate. Nevertheless, as a member of the UNRWA Advisory Commission, the UK can legitimately provide advice and assistance to the Commissioner General of UNRWA. In the absence of a lasting solution to the Palestinian refugee problem, we will continue to act in this capacity and to assist UNRWA to support the poorest and most vulnerable Palestinian refugees in the region.

Pensions

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will place in the Library of the House the proposal to transfer the General Lighthouse Authorities’ pension scheme into the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme; what independent analysis and scrutiny of the proposal has taken place; and what consultation is planned with stakeholders about the proposals and available funding.

Baroness Kramer: The Public Service Pensions Act 2013 entitles the General Lighthouse Authorities (GLAs) to join the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme. It is for the GLAs to decide if and when they do so within the requirements of that Act.

Post-2015 Development Framework

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to engage parliamentarians in the Post-2015 Development Framework following the United Nations’ Review Summit in August.
	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Prime Minister will meet parliamentarians to discuss their role in the Post-2015 Development Framework following the United Nations’ Review Summit in August.

Baroness Northover: The Government welcomes the interest and engagement shown by parliamentarians on the post 2015 agenda. Ministers and officials will continue to engage with parliamentarians on this issue.

Rape

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the proliferation of incidences of corrective rape against gay women throughout the Commonwealth.

Baroness Warsi: No systematic assessment has been made on the proliferation of incidences of corrective rape against gay women throughout the Commonwealth. However, the Government deplores any and all incidences of corrective rape.
	We welcome the recognition made by Commonwealth Women’s Affairs Ministers at their meeting in June that violence against women remains a critical issue affecting women’s empowerment and should receive priority attention in the post-2015 development framework.

Republic of Ireland: Aids to Navigation

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many meetings Department for Transport Ministers have had with (1) Republic of Ireland officials, or (2) Republic of Ireland ministers, in (a) 2012, and (b) 2013, on the subject of ceasing payment for the provision of the Republic of Ireland’s aids to navigation.
	To ask Her Majesty’s Government on what date the Republic of Ireland will assume responsibility for the service provision and costs of the aids to navigation in Irish territorial waters; when a figure for the historical liabilities associated with the severance will be reached; what figure the Department of Transport envisages being acceptable to ship-owners who pay light dues when entering United Kingdom ports; and when the rate of such light dues will start being reduced as a result of the change.

Baroness Kramer: The process for achieving full domestic funding for the Commissioners of Irish Lights’ (CIL) operations in the Republic of Ireland remains on course for completion in 2015-16. Irish and UK transport ministers discussed this subject at one meeting in 2012. There have been no such meetings to date this year.
	The historic pension liability of CIL is €184m. Her Majesty’s Government is assessing how all the General Lighthouse Authorities’ (GLAs) historic pension liabilities should be treated and will consult with the Lights Advisory Committee (LAC) on its proposed approach. The level of light dues is decided by ministers annually, after consultation with the LAC and GLAs.

Roma Genocide

Baroness Whitaker: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to support in the Council of Europe the proposal by the European Roma and Travellers Forum that all member states commemorate, and recognise as genocide, the killing of Roma during the Second World War.

Baroness Warsi: The Government agrees that the Roma genocide in the Second World War should be recognised and commemorated. We believe that member states should decide how and when to do this, according to their national circumstances. In the UK, we commemorate the Roma genocide as part of our annual Holocaust Memorial Day on 27 January. A number of our embassies also participate in local commemorations of the Roma genocide.

Sellafield

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, with reference to the announcement on 4 October of the Sellafield contract extension by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), whether the NDA and the existing consortium will seek wider, external commercial and other technical and management expertise where that may enhance safety, the delivery of stated decommissioning objectives and value for money for taxpayers; and whether they will keep the case for such external input under regular public review.

Baroness Verma: The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority continues to monitor performance closely and remains focused on achieving its goal of safe, effective, value for money decommissioning at Sellafield.
	If expertise is not available within Sellafield Ltd (the Site Licence holder) or one of the Parent Body Organisations (via reach back arrangements), external expertise is sourced from the supply chain.

Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands

Lord Campbell-Savours: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made in the territorial dispute between Japan and China over the sovereignty of the Senkaku (or Diaoyu) Islands.

Baroness Warsi: The UK does not take a position on these issues, other than to urge for a peaceful resolution in line with international maritime law. The respective governments of the parties involved understand this position.

Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands

Lord Campbell-Savours: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the British Embassy in Osaka is monitoring daily reports on the dispute over the Senkaku (or Diaoyu) Islands; and what assessment they have made of such reports.

Baroness Warsi: The British Consulate-General in Osaka deals with trade and investment, science and innovation, and consular issues. The British Embassy in Tokyo does monitor such reports. It seems clear that tensions around the islands, which flared in October last year, have yet to be resolved to any of the claimant parties’ satisfaction. We continue to urge a peaceful resolution, in line with international maritime law.

Sudan

Lord Avebury: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps, if any, they will propose should be taken by the United Nations Security Council to monitor effectively the prohibition of all offensive military flights over Darfur as provided by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1591.

Baroness Warsi: Monitoring and enforcement of United Nations Security Council resolution 1591 is the responsibility of the Council’s Sanctions Committee on Sudan, assisted by its Panel of Experts. We are active members of the committee, and meet regularly with the Panel of Experts and support their work to ensure that they are able to monitor implementation of the resolution as far as possible. The Panel undertakes investigations in Darfur, and gathers information from UN and other sources to determine whether violations of the sanctions have taken place. While it is unable to document every instance of an offensive overflight, the Panel’s reports present their best assessment of the overall level of such activity in Darfur.

Sudan

Lord Avebury: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what information they have concerning the acquisition of Sukhoi Su-25 ground attack aircraft and MI-24 ground
	attack helicopters by the government of Sudan; and what information they have about the use of those aircraft against civilian targets.

Baroness Warsi: We have seen media reports suggesting the acquisition of these aircraft. The UN Panel of Experts mandate includes investigating and reporting on the supply of weapon systems and related material to Darfur. We would expect the Panel’s final report due in January 2014 to assess any acquisition of military hardware in breach of UN sanctions, and we will encourage them to follow up these reports.

Sudan

Lord Avebury: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have examined the images published by the Satellite Sentinel Project concerning alleged military operations by the government of Sudan; and whether they will raise the content of those images in the United Nations Security Council.

Baroness Warsi: We are aware of the reports and imagery published by the Satellite Sentinel Project, including their most recent report of 30 September 2013 suggesting continued violations of the border agreements between Sudan and South Sudan by the militaries of both countries. The UN Security Council regularly discusses compliance by Sudan and South Sudan with agreements on the demilitarisation of the border and other issues, in accordance with UN Security Council resolution 2046. We draw on a wide range of sources to inform UK interventions in the Council’s consultations.

Sudan

Lord Avebury: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will make enquiries about reports that relatives of victims shot dead by security forces at recent demonstrations in Sudan were forced to sign death certificates falsely stating that the death was due to natural causes.

Baroness Warsi: We are aware of these reports from online media but have no direct evidence to substantiate these claims. We have made clear our concerns to the Government of Sudan, and stressed that there should be a full independent investigation into the demonstrations that occurred in Sudan at the end of September. As the Minister for Africa, my hon. Friend the Member for Boston and Skegness (Mr Simmonds), made clear in his statement of 30 September, we are shocked and saddened by the reports of the Sudanese authorities' use of excessive force.

Sudan

Lord Avebury: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what information they have received about recent closures of newspapers, interruptions of internet services and arrests of journalists in Sudan.

Baroness Warsi: As the Minister for Africa, my hon. Friend the Member for Boston and Skegness (Mr Simmonds), made clear in his statement of 30 September, we are deeply concerned at the detention of journalists, the censoring of media content and
	the suspension of internet services following the demonstrations in Sudan at the end of September. We continue at every appropriate opportunity to encourage the Government of Sudan to respect the right to freedom of expression.

Sudan

Lord Avebury: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of reports that senior members of the Sudan regime have been moving their families and money out of the country.

Baroness Warsi: We are aware of reports to this effect in the media, but have seen no independent evidence to substantiate these.

Sudan

Lord Avebury: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the effect of the change in the dollar value of the Sudanese pound on the open market since the start of 2013 on the Sudan regime’s ability to continue military operations against their own civilian populations and those in the border areas of South Sudan.

Baroness Warsi: The fall in the value of the Sudanese Pound is one of a number of factors that is contributing to Sudan’s economic difficulties, which have seen a decline in government revenues and increased prices for ordinary Sudanese people. It is deeply regrettable that in these circumstances the Sudanese government has chosen to maintain or increase its spending on security forces, pursuing military campaigns in Darfur, Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile, rather than making a serious commitment to a negotiated, peaceful solution of these conflicts.

Syria

Lord Empey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what items of non-lethal equipment they are currently supplying to rebel groups in Syria.

Baroness Warsi: We are currently supplying various items of non-lethal equipment to the political, military and humanitarian wings of the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces - the organisation that the UK and over 100 other countries recognise as the sole legitimate representatives of the Syrian people. This equipment comprises: a range of civilian vehicles, including trucks, pick-ups and forklifts; forensic evidence collection kits; generators; solar powered batteries; radios; cameras; water purification kits; civil resilience kits; office equipment, including laptops and printers; and chemical weapons protective equipment, namely 5,000 escape hoods, chemical detector paper and nerve agent pre-treatment tablets sufficient to treat up to 5,000 people for 6 months.

Torture Survivors

Baroness Lister of Burtersett: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the report The Poverty Barrier: The Right to Rehabilitation for Survivors of Torture in the UK published in July by Freedom from Torture.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The Government notes the recommendations in this report and in particular will take them into account when considering any future changes to asylum support arrangements, including the provisions for vulnerable groups such as torture survivors. The Government published the findings of its review of asylum support rates in a Written Ministerial Statement on six June 2013, Official Report, column 119VVS and has no immediate plans to review them again or to respond formally to this report.

Turkey and Armenia

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will make representations to the governments of Turkey and Armenia about reopening their common frontier.

Baroness Warsi: The UK supported the 2009 Turkey/Armenia Protocols on the Development of Relations and Establishment of Diplomatic Relations, and continues to encourage their ratification without preconditions. We have called on the Governments of both Turkey and Armenia to work together to take forward the normalisation process including the re-opening of their common border, for the benefit of both countries and the wider region, and will continue to do so. The UK has also engaged with both Turkey and Armenia about the need to promote reconciliation between the peoples and Governments of both countries.
	The EU’s Instrument for Stability programme is supporting efforts to normalise relations between Armenia and Turkey.

United Nations

The Lord Bishop of Derby: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the United Nations
	to ensure sufficient funding to support a paid, full-time Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, with a fully functioning office.

Baroness Warsi: I refer the noble and right reverend Lord to the answer given by the Minister for Europe, my right hon. Friend the Member for Aylesbury (Mr Lidington), on 3 July 2013, Official Report, column 662W.

Visas

Lord Ouseley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many complaints they have received about the complexity of the United Kingdom's visa application procedures; and whether there are any plans to simplify the visa system.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: We are not able to provide a figure for complaints received about the complexity of the visa system as we do not categorise complaint data in this way.
	We operate a highly effective visa system for all categories and continue to review and develop our services to improve customer choice and convenience.
	To ensure that the visa system is accessible we have expanded and improved the network of visa application centres—there are now over 170 around the world and 12 in each of India and China alone (compared to three or four on offer from most other countries).
	During the first half of 2013 we received nearly 1.5 million overseas visa applications, 10% more than in the same period last year. Visitor numbers were up 17% on the same period in 2012.
	We have simplified the process by introducing online applications and booking systems, with 95% of applications now submitted online. We continue to improve the online process to make it more intuitive and user friendly and have provided translated ‘how to apply' website information on the web pages for 12 countries.
	For customers who would like a faster service we offer 3-5 day priority visa services in over 60 countries (including Bahrain, Brazil, China, India, Kuwait, Oman, UAE) and we are expanding this further. In India, we have introduced the super priority visa service which allows regular visitors and business visitors to get their visa processed in just 24 hours.